The transfer of heat energy is studied in GCSE Science. This is the fourth of eight quizzes on the topic and it looks specifically at the processes of conduction and convection.
Heat is thermal energy. It only ever travels in one direction - from warmer to cooler. You may have heard people say 'close the door to keep the cold out' but they really should be saying 'close the door to keep the warmth in'. Heat travels in 3 ways, but this quiz is concerned with only two of them - conduction and convection, which both involve the movement of particles.
Heat energy can move through any solid by conduction. Metals are usually good conductors of heat but liquids, gases and solids made mainly from non-metals are usually poor heat conductors. Poor conductors of heat are called 'insulators'.
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Thermal energy is transferred from the hot end of a solid to the cold end. In metals, this process is very efficient because the particles are very closely packed and there are free electrons in the structure. In materials made mainly from non-metallic elements there are no free electrons and the atoms are fixed in place differently, so the heat doesn't get passed on as easily.
Heat is transferred through liquids and gases (fluids) by convection. The particles of fluids are free to change places. When heated, there is more kinetic energy in the particles so they move around more than they did before they were heated. Because they are moving faster, they are further apart which means there are fewer particles in each cm3 - the fluid is therefore less dense. As you know, less dense things float to the top in fluids. The heated part of the fluid rises to the top and cooler fluid moves in to take its place. This is called a convection current and, as it circulates, heat is spread through the entire fluid.
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1.
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In what substances can convection occur? |
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[ ] |
Solids |
[ ] |
Only liquids |
[ ] |
Liquids and gases |
[ ] |
Only gases |
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2.
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What is the main way that heat passes through a brick in the wall of a building? |
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[ ] |
Convection |
[ ] |
Conduction |
[ ] |
Radiation |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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3.
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How does extra heat affect the particles of a metal? |
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[ ] |
It makes them vibrate faster |
[ ] |
It makes them move around more and change places, reducing its density |
[ ] |
It slows down the movement of the particles |
[ ] |
It melts them |
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4.
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Why are metals good heat conductors? |
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[ ] |
They are shiny and solid |
[ ] |
Their particles are far apart |
[ ] |
Their particles are packed close together |
[ ] |
They are malleable and ductile |
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5.
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Houses built with thick stone walls usually stay cooler inside during the summer than houses built with thinner brick walls. Why might this be? |
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[ ] |
Conduction is slower through the thicker walls |
[ ] |
No convection can occur through the thicker walls |
[ ] |
No conduction can occur through the thicker walls |
[ ] |
The clay used to make bricks always contains some impurities that make it a better conductor of heat than stone |
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6.
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Which state(s) of matter is (or are) fluids? |
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[ ] |
Solids and liquids |
[ ] |
Liquids only |
[ ] |
Liquids and gases |
[ ] |
Gases only |
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7.
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"Particles with more energy move in to take the place of particles with less energy"
What method of heat transfer is being described in the previous sentence? |
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[ ] |
Sublimation |
[ ] |
Conduction |
[ ] |
Convection |
[ ] |
Radiation |
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8.
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Thunderstorms are created by which form(s) of energy transfer in the atmosphere? |
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[ ] |
Convection |
[ ] |
Evaporation and conduction |
[ ] |
Radiation only |
[ ] |
Conduction and radiation |
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9.
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On a sunny day, why is it slightly harder to swim back to the shore of a lake than to swim towards the centre? |
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[ ] |
The sun makes the water at the edge of the lake expand more than at the centre so you are swimming uphill |
[ ] |
The sun heats shallow water at the edge faster than the deep water, creating a convection current that flows towards the centre |
[ ] |
You are more tired because you have already swum out to the centre of the lake |
[ ] |
There is no difference |
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10.
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Why do hot air ballons rise? |
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[ ] |
The flames from the burner are going upwards and they push the balloon into the air |
[ ] |
The helium they contain is lighter than air |
[ ] |
The heat from the burners causes the air inside to become less dense |
[ ] |
They only rise because the pilot throws out some weight from the basket |
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1.
|
In what substances can convection occur? |
|
[ ] |
Solids |
[ ] |
Only liquids |
[x] |
Liquids and gases |
[ ] |
Only gases |
|
|
2.
|
What is the main way that heat passes through a brick in the wall of a building? |
|
[ ] |
Convection |
[x] |
Conduction |
[ ] |
Radiation |
[ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
3.
|
How does extra heat affect the particles of a metal? |
|
[x] |
It makes them vibrate faster |
[ ] |
It makes them move around more and change places, reducing its density |
[ ] |
It slows down the movement of the particles |
[ ] |
It melts them |
|
|
4.
|
Why are metals good heat conductors? |
|
[ ] |
They are shiny and solid |
[ ] |
Their particles are far apart |
[x] |
Their particles are packed close together |
[ ] |
They are malleable and ductile |
|
|
5.
|
Houses built with thick stone walls usually stay cooler inside during the summer than houses built with thinner brick walls. Why might this be? |
|
[x] |
Conduction is slower through the thicker walls |
[ ] |
No convection can occur through the thicker walls |
[ ] |
No conduction can occur through the thicker walls |
[ ] |
The clay used to make bricks always contains some impurities that make it a better conductor of heat than stone |
|
|
6.
|
Which state(s) of matter is (or are) fluids? |
|
[ ] |
Solids and liquids |
[ ] |
Liquids only |
[x] |
Liquids and gases |
[ ] |
Gases only |
|
|
7.
|
"Particles with more energy move in to take the place of particles with less energy"
What method of heat transfer is being described in the previous sentence? |
|
[ ] |
Sublimation |
[ ] |
Conduction |
[x] |
Convection |
[ ] |
Radiation |
|
|
8.
|
Thunderstorms are created by which form(s) of energy transfer in the atmosphere? |
|
[x] |
Convection |
[ ] |
Evaporation and conduction |
[ ] |
Radiation only |
[ ] |
Conduction and radiation |
|
|
9.
|
On a sunny day, why is it slightly harder to swim back to the shore of a lake than to swim towards the centre? |
|
[ ] |
The sun makes the water at the edge of the lake expand more than at the centre so you are swimming uphill |
[x] |
The sun heats shallow water at the edge faster than the deep water, creating a convection current that flows towards the centre |
[ ] |
You are more tired because you have already swum out to the centre of the lake |
[ ] |
There is no difference |
|
|
10.
|
Why do hot air ballons rise? |
|
[ ] |
The flames from the burner are going upwards and they push the balloon into the air |
[ ] |
The helium they contain is lighter than air |
[x] |
The heat from the burners causes the air inside to become less dense |
[ ] |
They only rise because the pilot throws out some weight from the basket |
|
|